Staff Spotlight, Laura McMullen
Park Ranger, Laura McMullen
Highlands Hammock State Park
Laura McMullen became interested in Florida after studying lubber grasshoppers while working as a research associate at Illinois State University. She spent a year as an AmeriCorps team member at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park and Big Cypress National Preserve, immersing herself in the state’s magical ecosystem. Although Laura values spending time alone in nature, she also revels in helping other people connect to the world around them. She most enjoys introducing children to the park and continuing stewardship through her Junior Ranger activities. She loves answering all the children’s inquisitive questions, and finds great satisfaction in seeing young people’s appreciation for nature grow.
There’s no one place that you’ll find Laura. From checking in campers to removing exotic vegetation, she is ready to take on any challenge. Besides her ranger duties, she also serves as the park’s Interpretive chair and information technology specialist. Among her many accomplishments, she has conducted special tours for international media companies as well as completed the inventory of the park’s cultural artifacts. She researched long-abandoned historical trails as a special project and partnered with other rangers in ground-truthing to locate and restore them. A true jane-of-all-trades, Laura is committed to doing all she can to make sure that Highlands Hammock is preserved and protected.